Twenty-five years ago today, September 11th changed our city, our country, and so many of our lives forever.
At Barasch & McGarry, we take this day personally.
For 25 years, we have had the privilege of standing alongside the 9/11 community. We have listened to your stories, fought for the benefits and protections you deserve, advocated for legislation in Washington, and worked to ensure that responders, civilians, residents, workers, students, volunteers, and families are never forgotten.
Last week, we had the extraordinary honor of bringing members of this community together at 3 World Trade Center for our 25th Remembrance event.
It was an incredibly moving evening of remembrance, reflection, and hope for what comes next.
As part of the evening, we awarded six $25,000 scholarships, totaling $150,000, to six remarkable young people from the 9/11 community whose parent or grandparent passed away from a 9/11 related cancer.
We were honored to award scholarships to:
- Thomas Sheehan, who lost his mother, Delia Tanger, a downtown resident.
- Ian Dannenfelser, who lost his grandfather, Gene, a lifelong volunteer firefighter and Deputy Chief Fire Marshal with the Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office.
- Sophia Cucuzza, who lost her mother, Jaime, an office worker at Thomson Reuters.
- Gabriella Abate, who lost her grandfather, Joseph Abate, an NYPD electrician.
- Domenick Masiello, who lost his grandfather, Domenick, a Local 3 electrician.
- Gianna Romano, who lost her grandmother, Maria Errico, an office worker at Aon’s office in the South Tower.
These young people remind us why remembering 9/11 must also mean looking forward. They represent the next generation of this community and the opportunity to carry forward the strength, service, and resilience that have defined it for 25 years. Their loved ones were responders, downtown office workers, and residents, proving that civilians were exposed to the same toxins as responders.
But our work is not finished.
People are still getting sick. Families still need our help. And there are still people fighting to receive the health care benefits and compensation they deserve.
As we mark this 25th Remembrance, our commitment is as strong as ever. We will continue advocating, educating, fighting for the programs you rely on, and making sure the needs of the 9/11 community are impossible to ignore.
It is an extraordinary privilege to represent you and to fight alongside you.
9/11 didn’t end on 9/11.
With deep respect,
Michael Barasch
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